McKeever's Olympic dream comes to an end

Blind cross country skier Brian McKeever trains at the Canmore Nordic Centre in Alberta, February 3, 2010. Legally blind since his late teenage years, Canada's McKeever will achieve a long-cherished dream and a unique place in the record books when he represents his country at this month's Vancouver Games.

Photograph by: REUTERS/Todd Korol
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WHISTLER -- Inge Braten today said it was the most difficult decision he's had to make in 44 years of coaching when he told legally blind skier Brian McKeever that he won't race in Sunday's 50K mass start, the final event of the Olympic cross-country competition at Whistler Olympic Park.

McKeever, 30, from Canmore, Alta., was hoping to become the first winter athlete to compete in both the Winter Olympics and Paralympics. The latter competition begins on March 12.

However, Braten, a Norwegian who has coached athletes to 22 medals in Olympic and world championship competition, decided to go with his best four racers. He made the decision late Friday evening in consultation with team manager Dave Wood and high-performance director Tom Holland of Cross-Country Canada. Ivan Babikov of Canmore, Alta,, Alex Harvey of St-Ferreol-les-Neiges, Que., Devon Kershaw of Sudbury, Ont., and George Grey of Rossland, B.C., will take up Canada's four spots in the penultimate event of the 2010 Games.

All four Canadians finished among the top 16 in last Saturday's men's 30K pursuit.

"Brian took it very hard," Braten said. "I can understand it. I'm also sorry that we can't use Brian. I had to be professional. I had to use my four best men in an Olympic race in Canada. You have a lot of politics in Canada. I can't understand the politics of sport in Canada. I had heard that he had been promised a position in the race. But that was never a question with me."

McKeever qualified for the Olympic team after winning a 50K trial in December. In 2007, at the world championships, he finished 21st in the men's 15K, competing against able-bodied skiers. But Braten said it was his job to give Canada the best opportunity to win medals. Only four spots were available in the 50K. As the alternate, McKeever would have skied in the 50K had any of the other racers been too tired or ill to compete.

"We mostly hoped that one guy might be sick, so we could put him in," Braten said. "But we have four healthy boys, fighting for medals tomorrow [Sunday]. When I told him, he was weeping. But I was also weeping. For saying 'No' to a skier, that was really the hardest. It was the hardest, ever. I hope I will never do it again."

McKeever met with the Canadian and international media in the mixed zone before today's women's 30K and was still trying to come to grips with the fact he won't be skiing Sunday.

"It's emotional, for sure," McKeever admitted. "It was not something I ever wanted to hear. I'm very, very crushed by the decision, but I understand the decision. Our boys are racing so fast. They deserve everything they've gotten. I stand behind them 100 per cent."

McKeever said he didn't expect one of his teammates to step aside and allow him to make history.

"Everybody wants to race," he said. "No matter what the decision, somebody was going to be disappointed. It's not up to teammates to make these decisions. It's up to the administration. We live with the decisions that are made."

McKeever said his non-participation in the Olympics won't affect his entry in the Paralympic Games. He intends to return to Whistler on March 9 in quest of more medals. He has already won four golds in two previous Paralymic Games.

"As much as it's hard now, we've got something to focus on at the Paralymics," he said. "I'll get fired up to race in those events. Hopefully, I'll be around in another four years."

Blind cross country skier Brian McKeever trains at the Canmore Nordic Centre in Alberta, February 3, 2010. Legally blind since his late teenage years, Canada's McKeever will achieve a long-cherished dream and a unique place in the record books when he represents his country at this month's Vancouver Games.

Photograph by: REUTERS/Todd Korol,

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